UK 10-Year Gilt Yield Drops Sharply in Early 2026

2026-01-09 09:16 By Agna Gabriel 1 min. read

The UK 10-year gilt yield has fallen sharply to around 4.40%, down about 13.5 basis points in the first trading week of January, the most since October due to growing confidence that UK inflation is easing faster than expected, allowing the Bank of England to begin cutting interest rates after staying cautious for much of last year.

The annual inflation rate in the UK slowed to 3.2% in November 2025, the lowest in eight months, compared to 3.6% in October and below the Bank of England's prediction of 3.4%.

Investors are now pricing in a first quarter-point rate cut as early as April, with a high probability of at least one more cut before year-end.

Adding to the rally, the UK government is reducing issuance of long-dated bonds, easing supply pressures at a time when demand from pension funds has weakened.

Improved confidence in the government’s fiscal plans has also helped calm deficit concerns.



News Stream
UK Bonds Under Pressure as Trump’s Iran Stance Sparks Sell-Off
The UK’s 10-year gilt yield climbed back to 4.8%, edging toward its highest level since July 2008, after US President Donald Trump’s pledge of more aggressive strikes on Iran dashed hopes of de-escalation. While Trump stated that the US operation was nearly complete, his vow to intensify actions, including potential attacks on electrical plants, over the next two to three weeks deepened investor concerns. With no new rationale for the war and mounting uncertainty, inflation fears have driven markets to revise Bank of England policy expectations. Investors now foresee two interest rate hikes in 2026, reversing four days of reduced bets that had left expectations below two hikes as of yesterday. Still, this remains below last week’s peak, when markets briefly priced in four increases. The shift comes despite Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey’s recent warning that markets were overestimating the likelihood of hikes.
2026-04-02
UK Gilt Yields Ease as Iran War Hopes Temper Rate Hike Fears
The UK’s 10-year gilt yield fell toward 4.75%, retreating from multi-year highs, as optimism grew for a swift resolution to the Iran conflict, reducing concerns over surging energy costs and aggressive Bank of England rate increases. US President Donald Trump’s statement that the US could withdraw from Iran "in two or three weeks," deal or no deal, fueled cautious optimism, though Washington’s inconsistent messaging continues to sustain uncertainty in the war’s fifth week. Markets have revised their BoE rate hike expectations, with investors now pricing in fewer than two increases in 2026, down from four projected in mid-March. Earlier forecasts of two pre-conflict rate cuts have been abandoned.
2026-04-01
UK Gilt Yields Retreat From Highs but Post Sharp Monthly Rise
The UK’s 10-year gilt yield dipped below 4.85%, pulling back from multi-year highs, as investors reassessed growth risks tied to the energy shock from the escalating Iran conflict. Despite the late-month easing, yields remained on track to close March up 60 basis points, one of the steepest monthly increases among European bonds. The geopolitical crisis has pushed energy prices higher, triggering a major repricing of Bank of England policy expectations. Markets now anticipate at least two rate hikes by 2026, a stark reversal from earlier bets on two cuts. However, BoE policymaker Alan Taylor struck a cautious tone, setting a "high bar" for rate increases and advocating for steady borrowing costs until the conflict’s economic fallout becomes clearer.
2026-03-31